THEORY OF THE EARTH. 177 



mains of antiquity are* separately classed; and 

 having some years ago observed to the viceroy, 

 that it would be of great importance, both to his- 

 tory and geology, to make a thorough search into 

 these buried remains at Adria, carefully noticing 

 the levels in comparison with the sea, both of the 

 primitive soil, and of the successive alluvial beds, 

 his highness entered warmly into my ideas ; but 

 I know not whether these propositions have been 

 since carried into effect. 



Following the coast, after leaving Hatria, which 

 was situated at the bottom of a small bay or gulf, 

 we find to the south a branch of the Jlthesis or 

 Adige, and of the Fossa Philistina^ of which the 

 remaining trace corresponds to what might have 

 been the Mincio and Tartaro united, if the Po 

 had still run to the south of Ferrara. We next 

 find the Delta Venetum, which seems to have oc- 

 cupied the place where the lake or lagune of 

 Commachio is now situated. This delta was. 

 traversed by seven branches of the Eridanus or 

 Po, formerly called also the Vadis Padus or Po- 

 dincus : winch river, at the diramification of these 

 seven branches, and upon its left or northern bank, 

 had a city named Trigoboli, whose site could not 

 be far from where Ferrara now stands. Seven 

 lakes, enclosed within this delta, were called Septem 

 Maria, and Hatria was sometimes denominated 

 Urbs Septum Marium, or the city of the seven seas* 

 or lakes, 



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